Holding Onto Happiness Chapter 1: Village, a ncis fanfic

Welcome to the follow-up of "Holding Onto Hope!" These chapters will be one-shots spanning any period of time after the end of HOH. Each of these chapters will be the title of a song, followed by one line of lyrics that stood out to me as fitting with the chapter's theme.

Village

"Cause your whole heart's a village, everyone you love has built it"

Monday, July 20, 2015

Even though he knew he would see them at lunch today, it was harder than he expected to walk out the door this morning. Since Ziva had appeared, they hadn't been separated from each other for a long period of time thanks to Gibbs generous gift of the week off. In the elevator up to the bullpen, he couldn't help but remember the events of the morning.

He woke up that morning to find his arm around Ziva and her cuddled against his side, the soft sounds of a sleeping Tikva drifting over from her crib. Looking over at the clock, he found he had twenty minutes before he actually had to be awake. Instead of going back to sleep, he turned his alarm down so it wouldn't wake either of the sleeping girls and decided to just take in his surroundings while pondering the events of the past week and a half. Two weeks ago, he had been Very Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo, living in a quiet apartment on his own and dedicating all of his time to his job. Now, he was Very Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo, a father who was reunited with the woman he loves, living in an apartment with Ziva and their daughter, their sounds of talk and laughter filling the space. Even after Ziva showed up at his doorstep, he didn't expect things to go as well as they did but he couldn't be more thrilled. For the past week he's been with them 24/7 and today he's finally getting to re-unite them with the team, but that also means having to go back to work and not being able to be with them all day. Not wanting to ruin his mood, he pushed those thoughts away and instead focused on the way Ziva was curled up against him. She had one arm draped across his stomach and her head was resting on his chest, hair tickling his nose. They hadn't been this close in bed since the nights they spent together after he found her in Israel two years ago (except for the night on vacation when they fell asleep watching a movie, but that didn't count.) He was just thinking how he could spend the rest of his life like this when his alarm clock went off, making him shift slightly to turn it off. He lifted Ziva's arm off his chest as gently as possible and was surprised when the only thing she did was roll over and curl into the blankets. Wanting to spend as much time as possible with Ziva and Tikva before he left for work, he rushed through his morning routine and planned on eating a quick breakfast before the girls woke up. When he walked out of the bathroom though, those plans changed as he heard Ziva's voice travel from the kitchen as she sang to their daughter. She was putting the finishing touches on breakfast when he walked in and was greeted by a "good morning Tony" when he sat down at the table. With an hour left before he actually had to leave, he took his time eating, talking to Ziva between bites, and, after they were finished, sat on the couch with Tikva as she played with her stuffed dog. Time to leave, Tony got up and walked to the door slowly with Ziva right behind him with Tikva reminding him that the earlier her went to work, the earlier he would see them at lunch. At the door, he turned around and kissed the top of his daughters head and was slightly stunned when Ziva leaned up and kissed his cheek before saying goodbye and pushing him out the door.

When the elevator doors opened, Abby rushed in to tackle him with one of her famous hugs, effectively breaking him out of his thoughts.

"Tony Tony Tony! Where were you? I was so worried! McGee told me you were taking the week off. Is everything okay?" She rambled in typical Abby fashion, pulling back slightly to look him over. Satisfied that he seemed okay, she yelled "Why didn't you call me?!" emphasizing her question with a light punch to his shoulder.

Finally peeling her off of him, he led her out of the elevator and turned her to face him, putting his hands on her shoulders. "I'm fine Abs, really. I just wanted to take some time off to see Senior, try to make up for lost time. And I'm sorry I didn't call but it was a spur of the moment thing, I just called Gibbs to get the time off and then called McGee 'cause I knew you wouldn't get too mad at him for telling you."

Abby sighed but nodded, accepting his excuse and apology. "Okay, fine. But call me next time you decide to take a week off mister, I missed you!"

"I missed you too Abs. How 'bout we do lunch today? I can bring something down to the lab?"

"That sounds perfect!" She jumped up and down before giving him a quick hug and going to get back on the elevator.

"Well that went smoothly," Tony thought, walking to his desk and setting down his bag. He was eager to set out the picture of Ziva and Tikva that he had taken in Lewes so he could display his new family to the world but realized when McGee walked in that it would have to wait until after lunch.

"Hey Tony, welcome back. How was the week off?"

Tony smiled, thanking him before launching into his well-practiced alibi for the past week. "It was good Tim. Had a quiet week catching up with Senior, spent some time on the water. It was nice."

"Well good for you Tony, I'm glad it went well. Think you and Senior made any progress?"

"Well uh, you know, things like that don't just happen overnight." He stumbled through an answer and kicked himself for not having come up with one before. He should have known McGee would ask. Needing to change the subject, he quickly moved on to the question he needed to ask McGee. "So, to uh, to make up for leaving you alone last week, why don't we do lunch today, my treat?"

Hesitant to accept because Tony was usually never this generous, McGee gave him a questioning glace before sitting down at his desk.

"Oh come on McGee, please? I'll even invite Abby too." He sing-songed.

McGee caved, agreeing to meet him in Abby's lab as soon as they were available to take lunch.

Gibbs strode into the bullpen at that moment and both agents watched as he went straight to his desk and sat down.

McGee gave Tony a questioning glance when the usual "gear up" wasn't heard from through the room. "Morning Boss, no case today?" McGee asked.

"Nope. Paperwork day for you two."

McGee swallowed that information and then glanced to the empty desk across the room that was lacking their newest agent. "Bishop have the day off?"

Gibbs sat his coffee down on his desk, already tired of the questions. He's just glad that the changes in today's routine were because of DiNozzo's plan or else he'd keep asking questions until he received a head slap. He looks up at McGee and tells him that she's working with the NSA today then looks back down at his paperwork, clearly ending the conversation.

Taking the hint that he needs to shut up and get to work, McGee glanced at Tony who just shrugged and they both quickly got to work. After making sure McGee was focused on working and not paying attention, he glanced up at Gibbs and gave him a grateful look, knowing that he couldn't pull off his lunch surprise without his help. Gibbs just looked up and nodded his head in recognition, telling him silently that no thanks was needed.

4 long, boring hours into the day of never ending paperwork, Gibbs looked up at his team and told them to take lunch. Tony's head flew up and he tried hard to control his excitement because he knew Gibbs had gotten work that Ziva was almost to NCIS. Gibbs got on the elevator and went down to wait for Ziva's taxi to pull up outside while Tony made sure McGee went down to the lab and got his and Abby's orders before meeting Gibbs and the girls inside the door so he could escort them through the building under the guise of picking up lunch. He walked with Ziva, carrying the picnic basket that she brought, while Gibbs carried Tikva. The four of them reached the lab and Ziva took a big breath, nervous yet ready to see the people she considered family again after so long away. Tony peeked in the door and noticed that both Abby and McGee's backs were turned and gave the others a thumbs up. Gibbs stayed in the hallway outside the door with Tikva while Tony walked in with Ziva hidden behind him.

"So I didn't buy exactly buy lunch, but I figured this would make up for it." The duo turned around in time to see Ziva step out from behind Tony. They both stared at her in shock as she stood there nervously wringing her hands. Abby shook off her surprise first and launched herself towards Ziva, giving her a welcome home hug, Abby style, and whispered "I missed you" into Ziva's ear. Ziva hugged her back in a strength that matched Abby's and tried to hold back the tears that were brimming in her eyes. Once Abby pulled away, McGee immediately stepped up and captured Ziva in a strong hug and surprised her when his "I'm so glad to see you" came out in a tear-filled voice. That broke her resolve and she let a few tears escape. His hug lasted longer than Abby's and they both had to wipe at their eyes when they pulled away. Ziva stepped back next to Tony who gave her a side hug. Before Abby and McGee started asking the questions they both knew were coming, Ziva spoke up, giving Gibbs the signal to bring Tikva in the room.

"It is very nice to be back here and see you all again. Before we sit down to eat though, there is one thing I have to tell you." At that, Gibbs entered the room with an alert Tikva on his hip. As soon as she saw Ziva, she reached out, her cry of "Ima!" startling the rooms unsuspecting occupants for the second time that day. "Abby, Tim, this is Tikva. Tikva, this is Abby and Tim. Say hi." Tikva waved at them before starting to cuddle back into Ziva before noticing Tony for the first time since entering the room and reaching out to him.

"Abba!"

Tony sat the basket of food on the floor before picking up Tikva from her mother's arms. He turned back around to see McGee and Abby with wide eyes, looking back and forth between himself and Ziva.

"Wait. You…." She pointed to Tony, then to Ziva, and finally to Tikva "and you… and her…?"

Ziva chuckled lightly at their baffled friends before confirming Abby's question. "Yes Abby, Tikva is our daughter."

"Oh my gosh, congratulations you guys! She's so cute! Can I see her?" Abby rushed out, coming up next to Tony and talking more to Tikva than to her parents. Tikva curled up more into Tony's side and hid her face in his shoulder.

"She's kinda shy with new people Abs. Give her a little time to warm up to you first."

Abby pouted at first before turning back to the others and announcing she was ready to eat. They talked some over lunch about Tikva and their time together since Ziva arrived back in D.C. Lunch ended with the promise of getting together for dinner one evening soon before the new family went down to see Ducky and Jimmy outside of autopsy where Ziva received a gentle hug from Ducky and an enthusiastic yet awkward one from Jimmy. Tikva was doted over by both men until Tony realized the time and that lunch would be over soon. They invited Ducky and Jimmy for their group dinner before walking outside to call a cab.

Tony put his arm around Ziva's shoulders, hugging her from the side and pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

"Thank you Tony. I needed to see them. I have missed them.

"They've missed you too. See, I told you it wouldn't be a problem. They love you Ziva, and they love Tikva too. We're all glad to have you back."

"It is good to be back Tony."

At that moment, the cab pulled up and Tony got Tikva settled while Ziva got their bags in. He shut Tikva's door, then walked around to Ziva's side, putting one hand on the open door and one on the side of the car, leaning in.

"So, uh, I'll see you at the apartment?"

"Yes, we will see you there. Goodbye Tony."

"Bye Ziva, bye Tikva." He waved excitedly to his daughter as the car pulled out.

When he got back up to the bullpen, he sat at his desk and pulled out the family beach picture he had been looking at this morning. Spinning around, he proudly pinned it up behind his desk and stared at the smiling faces of his daughter and Ziva, happier than he's been in a long time. Six o'clock couldn't get here fast enough.

AN: Thank you so much to everyone who read and reviewed Holding Onto Hope! I hope you enjoyed the first chapter of Holding Onto Happiness! If there's anything you would like to see in future chapters, please leave it in the reviews, I love hearing from you!

NCIS, Copyright, All rights belong to CBS Broadcasting INC.